I've been organizing a lawyer, specializing in military law for the last several months...fill in more depressing thoughts about how vets get screwed to the wall more often then our flag wavin', patriotic leadership would like you to think...I'm thinking your friend had some very good points.
The deprogramming facility fits perfectly into my notion of Book's past. I loved it as a part of the Earth 2's storyline regarding the "Yale Program". Hardcore soldiers were reprogrammed to be teachers. In this particular case, Yale was also the spiritual center of the crew.
Makes me think about Jayne's line to Kaylee, "Hell, I've seen the edge [of the black] all's I saw was...more space." [sic]
When you've seen the worst inside and outside of yourself, where else is there to go but more deeply inside?
Both Mal and Book took that journey, with differing, if not equally successful results. Depending on one's value for 'success'.
Whee, my Serenity just shipped. It was bundled with another item that's not out yet, but that got delayed so they sent Serenity earlier than anticipated without any additional charge.
I just got mine yesterday. All the special features have been watched.
Sigh.
One of the guys I lent FF to floated the idea about reintegrating vets (especially ones called upon to do truly hard core things) into society, and said he thought the Alliance used the Shepherdhood to deprogram people like Book, and it's where they'd have sent a decommissioned Operative if he hadn't bolted instead.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that idea.
Just in case someone wants to go archive Joss' posts, the Universal board will be closing down on Friday, January 6th.
edited to correct date
I adore the idea of a deprogramming center for Operatives.
My dad had a very Firefly Christmas this year. I gave him both the Serenity DVD and the Firefly soundtrack (he still has my Firefly DVDs, the stinker). He's in hog heaven, and has been listening to the soundtrack over and over again while working in his studio.
Tamara:
Just in case someone wants to go archive Joss' posts, the Universal
board will be closing down on Friday, January 6th.
Just wanted to clarify this - it's actually closed down 3rd as you originally said I suspect, but the date on the email is wrong I believe.
And wow, this is the most boringest post ever.
One would hope the thorough people at Whedonesque would be on top of it.
Cute interview with Nathan Fillion and his mom: [link]
